Internet Marketing

Barriers to e-commerce adoption

? Owners lack awareness of the technology

? Lack of available information about EC

? Lack of business opportunities

? Lack of time to implement e-commerce

? Concerns about security of e-commerce/payment systems

? E-commerce yet to gain acceptance, lack of critical mass among customers/suppliers/business partners to implement e-commerce, Reluctance of customers to purchase online

? Unfamiliarity with the internet

? Lack of senior people enthusiasm to use the technology

? High costs of investment/implementation, connection, start up or usage

? Cultural barriers

? Infrastructure issues, inadequate infrastructure (telecommunications and financial)

? Lack of understanding of how the technology could affect their business, did not believe online marketing would be effective.

? Uncertainty about benefits/advantages of e-commerce

? Lack of technical skill and IT knowledge among employees

? E-commerce is too complex to implement

? E-commerce is deemed not suitable for the product/service offered or the way SMEs/their clients do business

? Not sure which hardware or software to choose, technical limitations of hardware and software

? Heavy reliance on external consultants (who are considered by small businesses to be inadequate) to provide necessary expertise.

? Small business require short term ROI and e-commerce is a long term investment, concern about ROI, reluctance to make substantial investments when short term returns are not guaranteed

? Inadequate legal systems, enforceability of contracts negotiated over the network

? E-commerce is perceived a technology lacking direction

? Decreased productivity through frivolous use

? Inappropriate pricing structure

? Verification of authorship of message

? Resistance to change because of fear of new technology among employees

? Government not taking a leading role. Lack of Government support/involvement

? Guarantee of message delivery

? Mistrust of IT industry

? Tampering with network message

? Preference for and satisfaction with traditional manual methods

? Unauthorized access to internal networks

? Interception of network messages

? Lack of guidelines about how to start the process.

Recent e-commerce adoption barriers in SMEs

? Lack of suitable EC solutions for SMEs

? Problems in solving compatibility issues with existing IT system

? Difficulty in changing the existing working